Posts tagged as “running”

Happy New Year! If you are in the US right now, odds are pretty good you are very, very cold at the moment. And if you were in Central Park last night, you were definitely cold. It was the coldest NYC new year's eve in 100 years, and the 2nd coldest on record. Lucky for me and my mister, we had one more race--the Midnight Run-- in the New York Road Runners 9+1 program to complete in order to qualify for the 2018 New York City Marathon to keep us warm.

I always wanted to do this race, but I never indulged in because of the steep $50 price tag. In fact, we were originally supposed to run the Ted Corbitt 15k earlier in December, but a last minute emergency prevented us from being there. So out of necessity, we signed up.

Where Did My $50 Go?

I picked up our Bibs, shoe blinker lights, and shirts a couple days before. I was surprised to find custom shirt imprinting available for the back of people's midnight run race shirts! This involved a lot of iron on letters and a man announcing that the line wait was 45 minutes and they were "all out of E's", but I was still impressed. A for Effort. Also, anything that helps explain the $50 price tag!

Little did I know, this race WAS actually a New Year's party. At 11 pm, race night, we pulled on the final layers to our ensembles (10 degrees F, wind chill feel at -4), made our way to 72nd street, and through the various security barricades. Up near the band-shell, was a stage an a huge crowd of runners dancing stiffly albeit enthusiastically. There were lots of great running getups- colorful holiday costumes, animal shaped pajamas, and all the traditional New Years head gear.

Running a little behind, by the time we reach the start, it was at least 11:45 and the corrals were PACKED. We managed to squeeze in and before we knew it, 2018 was here. And then the fireworks came.

Blast Off for the Midnight Run

I knew there would be fireworks, I just did not know when they would be exactly, and where. The answers were: right now at 12 and right next to you. Like right next to all of us. I have never been so close to fireworks in my life and it actually freaked me out a little bit how close we were. The fireworks were actually an extraordinary show too and went on for at least 10 minutes. My only complaint, was that since we all had to run away from the fireworks as the race was starting at the same time people were tripping into each other quiet a bit, trying to run and look at the show behind them. It might have been nice at if they started closer to 12:30, so the majority of runners would be running towards them and get to see more of them.

But, I digress- I still loved it. Then, just about halfway through, we turned onto the normally subdued 102 transverse, only this time it included:

a water station

a dj- complete with impromptu runner dance party

sparkling apple cider, frozen into a frothy slushy

Pretty cool!

As we were finishing, a man picked up the female runner next to him, who was wearing a white tutu, and carried her across the finish. My mister and I finished this race, arms linked, and I felt very lucky to have such an incredible man by my side not only for that moment, but for all of the races before it, and for all the days ahead.

The Two Ways to Run the Staten Island Half

In my opinion-- and I think many veteran NYC Marathoners may agree with me-- there are two ways to approach this race:

The Regular Way- which means you add about 5 or 6 miles in about an hour before the Half start (to tick off another long training run just in time for the NYC Marathon)

The "Short" Way-the regular Staten Island Half Marathon.

The Race:

It began raining almost immediately, but since it felt about 30 degree warmer, it never came to resemble the hellscape of last year.

We were in a corral with the 9:30 pacer, which was contrary to our plan to do the first half at 10:00 m/p, but I was optimistic. I was (is) also convinced that the mister is in better shape than me, so if I felt fine then he definitely felt fine.

By the second half of the race, he was ready to NOT be going 9:30 and I was ready to find some bathrooms. I was very, very happy that he waited for me this year since I was running for my life last year to catch up with him after we parted due to a bathroom line.

A couple of weeks ago, I lost my Favorite Running Hat Ever- the free NYRR volunteer hat that I got for free last year. So when we saw one in the middle of the road, around mile 10, and the mister said, "There you go, get that one," I actually turned around. Unfortunately, someone else had the same idea and beat me to it!

That was a great hat! (Note to the Universe: send that hat back to me!)

The rest of the Staten Island Half flew by, especially since I always feel more warmed after more than an hour of running and the miles slip by a little quicker. It is tough though, as anyone familiar with the course in recent years knows that it takes a turn into warehouse land limbo for a little bit at the end!

Takeaways:

All in all, a good race. The Mister PR'd by about 10 minutes! I missed the extra miles before the Half actually started and hope I can convince my Mister to resume the tradition with me next year, since we both will be prepping for the NYC Marathon that fall.